While it may seem counterintuitive to some, sharing third-party content on your business website can be a great thing to do. You can’t talk about yourself all the time. However, you need to make sure you do it in the most effective way possible to get the most out of it. Here are ten things to think about looking to post third-party content the right way. 

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What is third-party content? 

Third-party content is anything external to your own site. This can include Youtube videos, hyperlinks to other articles, apps, images, and so on. So, why do you need it? 

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SEO

When it comes to SEO, hyperlinks are crucial. By sharing third-party content, you’re giving your own page a little boost. It’s also an opportunity to collaborate with another business — you can show how you link to their site and maybe they can do the same for you… Like a little search engine double-whammy. 

Want to know more about how to boost SEO for your business? Check out our other post on keywords! 

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Value

You can’t just share third-party content just because you find it interesting. It should also offer some value to your client, be it information related to your brand and business, a fun little video that adds some humour and personality to your other content, or a neat tool they can use in their day-to-day life. With so much content out there in the world, readers are quick to determine if what you’re sharing is worth the read. Make sure it is interesting!

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 If you’re thinking about sharing something, go through this checklist:

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• Is it related to my business or product? 
• Does it provide something to my client (eg. Context, information, a helpful tool)? 
• Does it detract from my brand?
• Will my client know why it is included in my content? 
• Does it waste my client’s time to follow the link/watch the video?
• Is it interesting enough to share?

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Be thorough

If you find an article that you think is share-worthy, be sure to read it all the way through! You could discover by the end that they actually don’t support the type of service your business offers or maybe have some other conflicting opinions that don’t align with your business. When it comes to third-party content, thoroughly vetting exactly what you share is key. Plus, in a world where “fake news” is extremely common, you want to make sure that you’re sharing things that are true. 

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Personalize

Just posting a link for your clients to follow isn’t enough. You still need to make it yours and give it context! A quick blurb about why you’ve included it goes a long way. It can also help build your business brand, reputation, and lets readers and potential clients your stance on the content that you share. 

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Give credit

Don’t forget, any time you use someone else’s content, you must give credit. That means a link, a name attached to a quote, or some other indication of who created what you’re using. This is also important when it comes to third-party content on social media, so make sure to check out our post for pointers on that. 

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If you’re looking to create thoroughly-vetted, well-written, shareable content for your business to help boost your SEO and convert clicks… Well… You’ve come to the right place. Book a call with us today to get started!